Live Blog: Carry the Flag Press Conference
By David Weissman | November 2, 2012Computer dying so I'll end this now. Thanks for joining me, I'll provide a quick recap soon with any new information that may come. "You can put new people in their slots," Byrnes says in response to a comment about President Ayers and other board members. Byrnes answers my question about the Washington Post article released yesterday, saying it didn't include all the information he had hoped it would. "We're not gonna stop," Byrnes answers to a question from RTD. Byrnes now taking questions with two other soccer alumni, one of which is Jim Brady, '85. Byrnes finishes his speech, to a standing ovation, by pulling out a Richmond flag and saying, "Carry the Flag, boys." "I ask you to withhold your donations to the University of Richmond until the Board of Trustees makes this right." Byrnes now asking the board to reinstate the soccer and track programs as soon as possible. "You had an organized group of soccer alumni banging on your door to help, and you ignored us," Byrnes says, in spirit to Ayers. Byrnes says that if the soccer alumni had any idea the program was in jeopardy, they would've brought their arguments straight to the Board of Trustees before the decision was finalized, and the "lacrosse inner circle" couldn't afford that to happen. Major Donor refused to engage with soccer alumni because "it would be inappropriate" because he is a member of the Board of Trustees, Byrnes said. "Eliminating a men's sport will not be an option," Byrnes says, quoting an email about a conversation another soccer alumni had with VP of advancement Tom Gutenberger last summer. Neither Ayers or Miller here right now I don't believe.